Does Every Single Person Feel Safe to Be Who They Are?

Leaders declaring that their organization is a safe space does not make their organization a safe space.

If even one person in the organization doesn't feel safe enough to speak up and say that they don't feel safe then it is not a safe space.

Intentions to create safe spaces where all employees – regardless of their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and any and all dimensions of diversity – can be seen, heard, valued, believed, may be true and genuine, but it's lazy and shortsighted for leaders to think that they can declare it into being.

Does every single person feel safe to be who they are without ridicule, censure, or discrimination? Does every single person feel safe to challenge authority, to share new ideas, to express their emotions?

Or do people feel the need to cover parts of who they are to "fit in" – repressing their true, expansive, dynamic identity?

Leaders, unless you've taken the time to talk with every single person, you don't know the answer to these questions.

So instead of declaring your organization a safe space, I challenge you to start doing the the work of making your organization a safe space.

This takes commitment, humility, vulnerability, and relationship building. And more time than sending a few emails.

Are you up for that?